Action from the international friendly between host Panama (red jersey) and Ecuador on June 3, 2015, in Panama City. (Photo courtesy of: Federación Panameña de Fútbol)
PANAMA CITY, Panama – Panama recovered a defensive miscue early in the second half to draw 1-1 with visiting Ecuador in an international friendly on Wednesday at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez.
The two-game series will shift south, when the sides meet again on Saturday in Guayaquil.
After a scoreless first half, Fidel Martinez gave the Ecuadorians a 1-0 lead in the 51st minute. A miscalculated backpass by Anibal Godoy was deflected into the path of the Mexico-based forward, who took a touch into the left side of the box, before firing a left-footed shot inside the left post.
Godoy made up for that error, making a good move to get into Ecuador’s box only to be taken down under pressure from a pair of defenders. Roman Torres converted the subsequent penalty kick in the 64th minute to level the score.
The host, which is preparing for July’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, was reduced to 10 players with eight minutes left in normal time, when Godoy was issued a straight red card.
